Printing machine



Jan 12, 1937. M. J. HOFFMAN PRINTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 6, 1935 Jan. 12, 1937. M. J. HOFFMAN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jun@ 5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www www Jan. l2, 1937. M J HOFFMAN 2,067,637

PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1955 3 sheets-sheet s L/LSl STOCIK 34 59 50a Patented Jan. 12, 1937 lTED STATES PATENT OFFICE answer PRINTING MACHINE Application June 6, 1935, serial No. 25,280

11 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines. One of the objects of this invention is to provide similar sets of type wheels, and setting means therefor, whereby to simultaneously print alternate lines of similar data, and intermediate lines of similar data, but dissimilar to that printed in the alternate lines. Another object is to provide duplicate sets of type wheels, similar to those of the rst mentioned sets, whereby duplicate sets arate places on a ticket or other sheet.

In connection with the manufacture of various articles, a work sheet, usually designated as a ticket accompanies each lot of articles to be made, and this ticket is subdivided into a large number of separate pieces, usually designated as coupons. The ticket contains suitable previously printed matter relating to the articles, and the several coupons contain previously printed data relating to various parts of the articles. For instance, in connection with the manufacture of shoes, the coupons have shoe sizes, usually running from size 1 to size 131/2, printed thereon in two lines, with adjacent spaces in which must be lled in, the number of pairs of shoes to be made of each size, or rather the number of pieces of material required for, or work done, on shoes of each size. A lot or case of shoes may contain one or more pairs each of sizes 1, 11/2, 2 and so forth. As for instance, there may be live pairs ofsize 1, three pairs of size 21/2, six pairs of size 4 and so on, and the work of filling in this data has heretofore been a painstaking and laborious task, often causing mistakes in the number of shoes or sizes required, besides being a very expensive Way of preparing the ticket.

In accordance with the present invention, an attendant may readily set up the printing mechanism to correspond with the number of articles of the various descriptions required, whereby the entire data may be printed in one operation.

In accordance with another phase of the invention, lines of data,such as the Case No., Stock No, Quantity, Width, and so forth, may be simultaneously printed on each coupon,

and other information may be printed thereon.v

of data may be simultaneously printed in sep-l ing machine embodying a simple form of thel present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan, partly broken out, of the printing wheels, setting and clearing mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmental, vertical, longitudinal section through the printing, setting and learigng mechanism, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5 is a detail, cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an auxiliary printing element;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the type wheels and setting mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a face view of a fragment of a suggested ticket.

The drawings are merely illustrative of one embodiment of the invention. Referring to said drawings, the reference character C designates a hollow base in which the hereinafter described type wheels, setting mechanism and clearing mechanism are mounted, and D designates a hollow cover, hinged thereto at c, in which the impression making mechanism is mounted. The cover is fastened down by thumb screws c1.

In the base is a table or platform E, on which is mounted a plurality of longitudinally extending, vertically disposed thin plates f, usually designated as liners, and in said liners, and in a bearing bracket F are journaled a series of shafts, designated by the characters G, G1, which project through a slot in the front side of the machine and bear handles or knobs on their outer ends, by means of which the shafts may be rotat-ed. The knobs are designated by the characters l, 2, 3, 4, 5 at one end and by 25, 26 at the other end. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) For the purposes of disclosure, the invention is illustrated in the form of a 'machine for making out tickets in connection with the manufacture of shoes, and as there are twenty-six standard sizes of shoes, twenty-six shafts G, G1 are shown, there being one shaft for each shoe size. The shafts are part of the setting mechanism which sets the hereinafter mentioned type wheels. In order to conserve space, the shafts are placed close together, and the alternate ones are made slightly longer than the intermediate ones, the knobs being arranged thereon in staggered relation (see Fig. l) so that they may be made as large as possible.

To indicate the printing position of the type wheels, indicating discs y, g1 (see Fig. 5) are mounted on the shafts in staggered relation, which discs bear indicating characters corresponding to and arranged inthe same manner as the type characters on the type wheels. The base C is provided with windows or sight openings o2 through which the exposed indicating characters are visible. Adjacent the windows the numerals 1, 1%, 2, 25/2 and so forth up to 13% .are displayed. 'I'hese numerals designate shoe sizes'. 'I'he windows may be formed in a strip c3 fastened in a slot that is formed in the/wall of the base of the machine. 'I'he type wheels print quantities and are set into printing position by turning the knobs. l

Rotatively mounted on rods H, H1 that extend transversely of the machine, through holes in the liners f, are type Wheels, some of which are desi ignated by the referencecharacter I, 2, 3, 25c

and 26, and correspond with the knobs I, 2, 3, etc. The type wheels are similar, and, as shown, each is provided on its periphery with type characters or type faces of the digits 0 to 9, a dash, and a blank space, there being twelve teeth or projections bearing the digits, dash and blank space. This arrangement may, however, be varied to suit the requirements.

The type wheels are arranged in coaxial align- Iment, transversely of the machine/ and are grouped in sets of twenty-six each, as`` a. preference or in any other desired number. A lesser number is shown in the sets illustrated in the drawings, but this is because the others have been broken away to permit the views to be made as large as possible on the sheets of drawings. There are two similar sets of type wheels in a group, one set being mounted on the rods H, and the other upon the rods H1. The adjacent rods H, H1 are set close enough together to print along two adjacent lines on the ticket, because the shoe size indicia on each coupon (see Fig. 8) of the ticket are arranged in two closely spaced lines and the type wheels print the data in spaces adjacent the shoe size indicia, as `will be presently explained.

The type wheels on the rods H print upon the spaces below the upper line of shoe size indicia of each coupon, and the type wheels on the rods H1 print upon the spaces below the lower line of shoe size indicia of veach coupon. To obtain this result the type wheels-on the rods H1 are disposed in spaces between the rows of type wheels on the several rods H and, as shown, they telescope or 'overlap the type wheels on the rods H. All of the corresponding type wheels on the rods H are aligned lengthwise of the machine, and all of the corresponding type wheels on the rods H1 are aligned in the same direction.

With this arrangement of the two sets of type wheels, parallel spaced lines of similarvdata can be printed adjacent the upper size indicia on the several coupons along the length of the ticket, and

simultaneously therewith other lines of data, dissimilar to the data printed by the first mentioned set of type wheels can be printed acacent the lower line of size indicia on each coupon with one impression.' 'I'he characters printed by one set of type wheels are offset laterally with respect to the other, because the type wheels of one set are aligned along spaced lines, and the type wheels of the other set are aligned between said lines. Fig. 8 illustrates an example of data printand the same column on each coupon lettered o.

and that two lines of characters are printed on each coupon.

Setting mechanism operated from the knobs, is provided for setting the type wheels in printing position, and the form illustrated will now be described.

Rack bars, some of which are designated by the characters Ib, 2b, 3, 251 and 26h, are provided, one individual to each type wheel, and arranged to rotate it. In the specic embodiment illustrated, the rack bars have rack teeth on both edges, the teeth on the upper edges meshing directly with the' type wheels or with teeth 6, formed on the sides thereof. 'I'he rack bars rest upon shelves e, located adjacent their ends, and they may also rest on idlers e1 intermediate their ends.

Setting pinions, some of which /re designated by the characters I, 2B, 3, 25B and 26, mesh with the rack teeth on the lower edges of the rack bars. There is one setting pinionindividual to. each rack bar and meshing with the lower teeth thereof, whereby when any one pinion is rotated, its associated rack bar is moved endwise and the type wheels associated therewith are correspondingly rotated.

The pinions are rigidly mounted on the shafts G G1, as by tongues I0, on the pinions that enter grooves I`I in the shafts. Conveniently the pinion le on the shaft having the knob I, meshes` with the rack bar I1 of the group, the pinion 2 on shaft of knob 2, meshes with rack bar 2b, which is next adjacent to rack bar I, and so on until the pinion on shaft of knob 26 meshes with rack bar 2611, which is the first rack bar of the set in a group.

It will be observed that by turning any knob to any selected position, as for example knob I, it will rotate its shaft G, pinion Ie will thereby be rotated, rack bar Ib moved toward the right as Viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, and all of the aligned type wheels I'1 that mesh withv the rack bar I1 will be correspondingly rotated, thereby bringing `the se'- lected type characters thereof into printing position. There are as many type Wheels disposed along a-'rack bar as there are coupons or other spaces to be printed upon.

Some tickets have two or more sets of coupons, arranged side by side, as seen at o, o1 in Fig. 8, and-in order to print duplicate data upon thev coupons of the second or. third set, a duplicate group or groups of type wheels, rack bars and setting pinions are provided beyond the group above described, as indicated at B in Figs. 3 and 5, A being the group described and B the duplicate group.

The type wheels, rack bars and setting pinions of the duplicate group or groups are constructed and arranged similar to the corresponding ones of the rst group, and the setting pinions are mounted on the shafts G, G1 of the rst group to mesh with racks corresponding in position to those of the first group. With this arrangement each line of data printed by the irst set of type wheels is duplicated in the second, and other sets of coupons of the ticket. f

Fig. 'l illustrates, diagrammatically this arrangement. Knob I turns shaft G, thls shaft rotates pinions Ia of groups A, B. Pinons I*1 mesh with and move rack bar Ih of group A and rack bar Ib ofv group B, and rack bars Ih rotate the several type wheels I of group A and the several type wheels I of group B. The alternate rows of type wheels of each group are thus adjusted from the knobs I, v3, 5, etc., and the intermediate rows of type wheels are adjusted by the knobs 2, 4, etc.

To make certain that the type wheels stop at the exact printing position, each shaft G, G1 has a toothed wheel I2 (see Fig. 4) mounted on its rear end that engages with a resilient detent I3 fastened to the platform E.

When the type wheels are set to print any selected data, the associated rack bars are projected toward the right, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Clearing mechanism is provided for restoring the rack bars and therewith thetype wheels, pinions, shafts, indicating discs and knobs to neutral position. Conveniently this mechanism may comprise a plate I4 slidably mounted in the base with its side edge I5 normally contacting with the ends of all of the rack bars, and arranged to be moved back on its support by one or any of the rack bars that are adjusted in setting the type wheels. Means are provided for moving the plate forward to restore the rack bars to neutral position, and, as shown, said means comprise a lever I6 fulcrumed on a post Il and having an arm I8 which is arranged to rock an arm I9, by a pin and slot connection 20, the arm I3 being fulcrumed on a support on the base and having a pin and slot connection 2I with the plate I4. By swinging the lever I6 from the dotted line position seen in Fig. 3 to the solid line position therein, the plate I4 is moved toward the left, as viewed in said Fig. 3, and the projected rack bars are pushed back to neutral position.

Any desirable form of impression making means may be provided for making the impression on the ticket or other sheet. Conveniently an inked ribbon 22 is wound upon spools 23, 24 mounted in the interior of the cover D, which ribbon overlies the type wheels. An impression roller 35 mounted in brackets 36, supported by a. plate or other carriage 3l, sliding in ways in the cover, and having a' knob or handle 28 secured thereto and extending exteriorly of the cover, illustrates one form of impression making means. The stem of the knob extends out through a slot 29 in the cover, and in making an impression the knob is moved along the length of the slot, thereby bringing the impression roller across all of the type characters on the type Wheels that are in printing position.

In the front wall 30 of the cover is a. lengthwise extending slot 3| through which a ticket may be inserted above the inked ribbon. Suitable guides or stops 32 are provided for properly locating the ticket in position to be printed and the ends of the slot may serve as guides to locate the ticket longitudinally with respect to the type f wheels.

In operation the type wheels are set to print the desired data as above described, the ticket inserted and properly located, and they knob or handle 28 moved from one end of the slot to the other.

For printing any additional information, as for instance width or last, an additional knob 2l and associate setting mechanism and type wheels similar to those heretofore described may be provided. If desired, this mechanism may be used to print the date.

For printing other additional data in connection with that printed by the type wheels, I provide an auxiliary printing element 33 (see Fig. 6) which contains a series of fingers 34 spaced apart so as to enter the spaces between certain of the type wheels, as seen in Fig. 4. The liners 5 are notched in their upper edges to receive the fingers and the back of the base may be slotted, as at 35a, to permit the auxiliary printing device to be inserted. Type slugs or other printing characters may be fastened to the fingers 34 and when inserted print data in the spaces between the data printed by the type wheels.

For printing other additional information, the type wheels of one set may be set to print similar data, such as the Case No., Stock No., Quantity on the several coupons. This is done by setting up the type wheels of one set only. As an example, to set up the Case No. 3459, the type wheel for shoe size 1, is set at 3; 'the type wheel for size 2 is set at 4; the type wheel for size 3 isset at 5 and the type Wheel for size 4 is set at 9. The digits 3, 4, 5, 9 will be printed two spaces apart, because only the type wheels that print in alternate columns are set up to print. Obviously the type wheels must be set up and the impression must be made before or after the number of Iarticles required are printed on the coupons. This other data may be printed on the' face or reverse side of the ticket.

Rows of perforations may be made on the ticket between the several coupons to facilitate removing them from the ticket.

The operation of 'the machine has been explained in connection with the description of the mechanism thereof, and it is believed is fully understood from such explanation. With one set of axially aligned type wheels disposed along alternate lines and a second set of axially aligned type wheels disposed in lines lntermedial the alternate lines of type wheels, with the type Wheels of one set disposed in alternate rows, and those of the second set disposed in intermediate rows, lines and columns of similar data may be printed.

Similar digits may be printed on alternate horizontal lines and in alternate vertical columns, and other digits, similar to each other, but dissimilar from the rst mentioned digits, may be simultaneously printed in horizontal lines and in vertical columns intermediate the first mentioned horizontal lines and vertical columns of digits, and with a duplicate group o groups of type Wheels, rack bars and setting pinions other data, similar to the data printed by the first group, may be printed simultaneously with one operation.

More or less variation of the-exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention. I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a printing machine, similar sets of axially aligned, spaced type wheels, the sets being arranged parallel with each other and the respective type wheels of each set being arranged in alignment with the corresponding type wheels of the other sets, other similar sets of axially aligned, spaced type wheels located between the first named sets of type wheels with the several type wheels disposed in the spaces between the type wheels of the rst mentioned set, and setting means for simultaneously setting all the type wheels of any set of aligned type wheels, whereby to print alternate lines of similar data, and to print lines of similar data between said alternate lines of data but different from that of the alternate lines.

2. In a printing machine, similar sets of axially aligned, spaced, toothed type wheels, the sets being arranged parallel with each other and the respective type ywheels of each set being arranged in alignment with the corresponding type wheels of the other sets, other similar sets of axially aligned, spaced, toothed type wheels located between the iirst named sets of type wheels with the several type wheels disposed in the spaces between the typewheels of the ilrst mentioned set, rack bars individual to the respective rows 'of type wheels and meshing with the teeth thereof, and means individual to each rack` bar,

' whereby to adjust the rack bars and therewith set the type wheels to printualternate lines of similar data, andintermediate lines of data dissimilar to that printed on the alternate lines.`

3. In a printing machine, similar sets of aidal- `ly aligned, spaced, toothed type wheels, the sets of the other sets, other similar sets of axially aligned, spaced, toothed' type wheels located between the rst named sets of type wheels with the several type wheels disposed in the spaces between the type wheels of the iirst mentioned set, rack bars individual Vto the respective rows of type wheels and having rack teeth on both edges, the rack teeth on one edge meshing with the teeth of the associated type wheels, pinions, one meshing with-the rack teeth on the other edge of each rack bar, and means to adjust the pinions. 4. In a printing machine, parallel shafts, similar sets of spaced type wheels rotatively mounted on the shafts, other similar, duplicate sets of type wheels rotatively mounted on the shafts, the respective type wheels of each duplicate set being arranged in alignment with the corresponding type Wheels of the other vduplicate seta-similar and duplicate sets of spaced type Awheels located between the i'lrst named sets of type wheels, with the several type wheels disposed in the spacesbetween the type wheels of the rst mentioned sets, and setting means ,for simultaneously setting aligned and corresponding type wheels of' the similar and duplicate sets of type wheels.

5. In a printing machine, parallel shafts, similar sets of spaced, toothed type wheels rotatively mounted on the shafts, other similar, duplicate sets of toothed type wheels rotatively mounted on the shafts, the respective type wheels of each set being arranged in alignment with the corresponding type wheels of the other sets, similar, duplicate sets of spaced toothed type wheels located 'between the first named sets of type wheels, with the several type wheels disposed in the spaces between the type wheels of` the rst mentioned sets, rack bars individual to the aligned sets of type wheels and meshing with the teeth thereof,

and adjustment means individual to the rack bars for setting the type wheels into printing position.

6. In a printing machine, parallel shafts, similar sets of spaced, toothed type wheels rotatively mounted on the shafts, other similar, duplicate sets of toothed type wheels rotatively mounted on the shafts, the respective type wheels of each set being arranged in alignment with the corresponding type wheels of the other sets, similar, duplicate sets of spaced toothed type wheels located between the first named sets of type wheels, with the several type wheels disposed in the spaces between the type wheels of the rst mentioned sets, rack bars individual to the aligned sets of type wheels, said rack bars having rack teeth on both edges, with the rack teeth of one edge meshing with the teeth of the type wheels, pinions, one individual to each rack bar and meshing with the other rack teeth thereof, shafts for said pinions and setting handles on said shafts.

7. In a printing machine, similar sets of axially aligned, spaced type wheels, the sets being arranged parallel with each other and the respective type wheels of each set being arranged in alignment with the corresponding type wheels of the other sets, other similar sets of axially aligned, spaced type wheels with each set telescoped between type wheels of a set of the rst mentioned set, and setting'means for simultane-` ously setting all of the type wheels of any set of aligned type wheels, whereby to print alternate lines of similar data, and to print lines of similar data close to the alternate lines of' data but different therefrom.

8. In a printing machine, type wheel setting mechanism comprising rack bars, placed side by side, pinions, one meshing with each rack bar and being disposed along the length of the rack bars, closely spaced shafts upon which said pinions are mounted, indicating discs on the shafts, arranged in staggered relation and overlapping each other, knobs on the ends of the shafts arranged in staggered relation and overlapping each other, and a case in which the mechanism is enclosed, said case having window openings disposed above the individual indicating discs, through which the discs are visible.

. 9. In a printing machine, similar sets of axially aligned, spaced type wheels, the sets being'arranged parallel with each other and the respective type wheels of each set being arranged in alignment with the corresponding type wheels Aof the other sets, other similar sets of axially by to print alternate lines of similar data, and to' print lines of similar data between said alternate lines-of data but different from that of the alternate lines.

10. In a printing machine, the combinationof a hollow base open at its top, type wheels and setting mechanism mounted therein, a hollow slotted cover hinged to said base, and closing the open top thereof, said cover having oppositely disposed guideways thereon, an inked ribbon overlying said type wheels and mounted in said cover, whereby to uncover the type wheels when the cover is raised, an impression roller in the hollow of the cover and disposed above the ribbon, a support for the impression roller slidably guided in said guideway's, and means attached to said support and extending out through the slot in the cover for moving the impression roller along the ribbon.

11. In a printing machine, sets of similar coaxially aligned type Wheels, the corresponding type wheels of each set being disposed in parallelv 

